STEWY BELL warmed up for his annual trip to Dubai with a
hard-fought victory in the Derwentside AC's Hellhole 10k
Multi-Terrain Race.

With a cold wind hampering the athletes' efforts, it was not
the ideal preparation for a trip to warmer climes, but Bell shrugged off
the persistent challenge of Heaton's James Buis to win by eight
seconds.

In his usual fashion, Bell swept to the front and, after the
completion of the opening kilometre, had opened up a cushion of 20
metres, with Buis his only challenger.

The gap between the leading pair hardly increased during the rest
of the race, with the Chester-le-Street athlete coming home eight
seconds clear of his rival.

In third place, over a minute behind the runnerup, was James Jarvis of Herne Hill Harriers.

Sarah Lister, of the Blackhill Bounders club, won the women's
race, with Heaton's Fiona Turner in second place.